Spring structure.



W. E. ANDREW.

SPRING STRUCTURE. APPLICATION 111.111) 11111.21, 1912.

Patented May 6, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.'

Wi E. ANDREW.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED 113.21, m12.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES I @Twan/5a var. Va/fm. I K7 Pazid May 6, ma. g

' 's One object'of this invention `is toi provide wrLLLaLr E.-

anim roved spring-structure articularly '..15 well .a aptedffor use in vehicles -used on .roads of :more r 'less uneven surface and which would'ordinarily produce sudden j olts and jars. VAnother bjeetwihin the Ontemplaio i-2Q :of 'inventionfis' to construct and apply interposed between the body and the axles;

I my-imp'roved spring-structure to vehicles i likea'utomobiles, an 'whereby the springs are controlled-in such manner that any sudl 251d8n'i1'pwaijd movement of the body (after 'i th.- springs have been faxed) will be pre-l ventechfqsothat the liability of shocks, jars and thfef likefareprecluded or at leastreduced 'tf a iiiniinum. '9 0 -A further' obect--of the invention is to eo struct and app y to a vehicle, my improvenfd spring-structure in order thatfany relati e movement between the'vehicle-body andt e axles -may at all times be governed; that Vto say, in order.4 that the movement of the body .when flexing and,.als0, after flexing the springnnder the stress of the xload car- 'ried; by the 7body may -be absolutely controll'ed'in a positivemanner, no matter how 40 great may have been the 'suddenness or ex? tent of ilexure imposed 1i on the spring.

' A still further object o theinvention is to provide means for controlling the relative movement between the body and axle of a vehicle and`. thereby -obviate the use of s o called shock-absorbers, now extensively/ employed,v the action of which is uncertain and the expense of equipping the vehicle therewith is thereby greatly increased.

505. j Still a further object of my invention is to "provide a springfstructure which is so constructedfthatit may be applied to existing 'istructures, that is tothe springs of vehicles l u. y

already equippedwith the ordinary type of specinauqnbf Letters Patent.

Abp'n'catioil 'mea rebmary 21, 1912. serial. No, s'zaisa Jersey, have yinl or manne HIGHLANDS, JERSEY] s'rninc s'rnncrunn.

. rae-@mea may s, 1era vehicle-springs and this without'the neces- 56 sity 'of re-constructing the'sp'ringo rany of the parts connecting it to the axle andbody.A

This invention in general 'seeks to rovide a spring structure which `is particularly Ladapted foruse in vehicles which are usedon roads of more'or less uneven surface, andv which structure,.. from :inoperative standpoint, 'will in practical use possess'a high degree of eiicie'ncy and durability 'and which, structurally considered, will be of the 6 5 greatest possible simplicity. Other objects and advantages -will'be part o bvious from the annexed-l=drawings,

and will also be in part pointed out in the following description.- The invention resides broadly in thefeatures of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements' of parts,- and in various-aggroupments thereof, allas willbe exemplifiedin the`construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of 'hich will be indicated in the claims hereto appended. v In order that this invention'may b e more clearly made comprehensible to lthose skilled 80 in its related art, drawings'illustrating some of the many possible utilizations of the same are appended hereto as a part ofthis di's" closure, it being` manifest that other possible utilizations and embodiments and which em- 35 -ploy the underlying principles of my invention, fall within the spirit thereof and with'-A in the objects contemplated thereby.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 1s a view in perspective of my improved 90 -spirmg structure; Fig. 2 is a view 1n elevation embodying my invention and 'as applied to an" elliptic spring, parts thereof being shown in' dotted lines in theposition-they assume when the equalizer-device is operated; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view 'showing the elements of the springs which form ai part of my spring'structure-in this .in-A f stance, the leaves of the spring being shown separated to make vclearer the idea of the roofreversed tension Fig. 4 is a similar v iew v 'of another form of construction, showing 1 1 I* the 'spring-elements 'thereof disposed in air opposite tensionproducing position; Fig. 5

is a View in perspective showing the utilization of my improved spring structure as ap plied to an automobile, Vand in which form I the upper vsection 'of the spring is of the solv` In the several embodiments of my inven- '2Q another will a support or sustaiing-in- Underlying or overlying .the sustainingy instrument-alityuandgin 'this lnstane .is described.

I vv formed at'its ends with loops'or eyes'1, for as shown in the drawings,'a link4maypbe 'I y.

4 0 bef-may bentilized; but I have shown s'uch Interposed between the s'ustaining-instru-v Q j I- 1,060,879

site directions, when vclipped in propergposi tion tothe band. By' these forms of gonstruction I find, asa result of experiment` and observation, that many advantages are secured and that the spring itself, in its entirety, is of greater strength and less liable to be fractured under the stress of. an ,unusually heavy-load, or jolt. If desired, a greater number of the spring-leaves may be disposed on one side of the attaching band than on theother (as in Figs. 3and 4),

called three-quarter elliptic; Fig. 6 is a ,view

in elevation, artly in section, of the springstructure modified to permit its utilization in other forms of automobile construction 5 and .'Flg. 7 1s anwelevati'onal view showlng` of the vehicleis attached.

- tion, it is to be understood 'that there will 7E e a 4plurality of elements. Essentially, one of these will comprise a spring, preferably -`ofthe form hereinafter described in detail; 4checltmated or controlled. 15V another will be a spring-controlling or'equal' In lieu of the sust'ainingnstrumentaliqf 80 izingdevicepr'eferably connecting-with the being ,in theform of spring,-as just 'de 4sprin and of the construction hereinafter scribed, it may constitute apart of the vedescri ed in detail'and constantly under tenh lcle and be in the form-of an arm 2, such sion when. in operative position; and still as il-lustrate'din Fig. 6. strumentality, and this may be either in the instrumentality 1'-as the case may be, ac- 85 forni o a spring, o r in the form of a bar or cording to 4the particular applica-tion` of m arm, or" of other vappropriate 4foi-m, aecordimproved spring-structure in the vehicleing to the mannerof 'utllizing my improved is a .spring-device 3 preferably` constructed 25 Spring structure, or'according to its particu4-v of-a. plurality ot leaves v3 operatively'held application to a; vehicle." in relation to a band 3" by clips 3, said band' erring to thefdrawings, and to the embeing formed with bent ends to 'form loops'- bodiments illustrated-in'Fig'fsjl, 2, 3, 101,1 'and or eyes 3-much in the same manner as the 5, the.numeral 1 deslgnates the,s'ustalningel spring-sustaining instrumentalityl, already. Y

95 shown, by way of exampleg, as 'a spring com- The sustaining spring l (or arm 2) on'thej, .pris'iiga pluralityof leaves 1, preferably of one part, and the vspring-device 3 on thedifferent lengths but all, y preference, se?. other, may be o erativelyconnected together cured-toA a; fiat bandi, which is -suitably and in any preierred way. Preferably, tand a purpose resentlytobe4 explained. Any used. In Fig.` l.-this 1ink is illustrated as preferred. ormof- `means '.'forholding the formed with two end-port1ons 4 andwitht eavesin operative engagement with the an intermediate portion 4,` the functionfof hand 1b, or with each other-as the cas'e may .which will presently` be explained 105 holdlng means, in this instance, in the form mentality' aforementioned and the springof clips 1d. f The upper leaves may have their device 3 is an equalizing or spring-controlendslturnedmupwardly to prevent the clips ling instrumentality 5 which, 1n the embodi- 'om workinig` beyond their intended posiment illustrated inAF-ig. l, is securedtathe tion, as shown. .Itis afeature of my springrspring sustaining i instrumentalityl by. a

structure totigmployz. a 'spring 1n which the clip 6, preferably intermediate of thelends component leaves are formed to have a reof both the spring 1 and said equalizinp-V I versed tension. 'By this expression, Iinean device 5. This spring-device 5 is preferab the aggroupment of a plurality of elements constructed 1n much the same manner asv I incluulug spring-leaves so related that have already described with reference to the '115 theirtensioti -1s .normally reversed to one springs-l and 3,. and includes a 'bandoa another. For instance, if 'a pair of springformed at its ends with loops 5b,a.dapted to leaves are used, they .are bowed either away be pivotnlly connected to and have a bearing orl toward earth other, as diagranimatically on one of the end-portions 4a of thellink 4. illustrated in 'Figs. 3 and 4. In l'g. 3, as Clipped or otherwise operatively secured to 12o will be` seen, the band l" is normally stra-ight, this band are a plurality of reversed-.tension or approximately so, and the leaves la are leaves 5'. Itis to be understood that Whenv bowed toward the band, the cuter ends ofi the spring device 5 is in operative position, the leaves lhavinganormal and natural tend that is, when it is connected, say, tothe ency to move away from said band, 'but spring l, it is ofsubstantially archedfform 125 which tendency is controlled by the clips l". and is constantly under tenslon, `Wherefore .ln Fig. 4, the leavesN bow away from cach it. is adapted to perform its recoil-control-- other, the outer ends of thel leaves having -linfr function in, Whatever position the ve-V a normal and natural uendency to'etect preshicTe-body may assume. v 'i 55 sure u pun said band butin' relatively eppoi It will bel understood that, in certain in- 130 ro necessary spring action.

medew o a stances, the spring leaves` may be omitted arid-'only the band' belused, dependence hadf'upon the inherent "resiliency of id liind'to prform itseqali'zing function l5 with reference tothe parts of said structure; r'f'jin-'lieu-ofsuchaconstruction, the leaves culdbe'niittd from one `side .of the band andi-retained Aoni-'the side, the re- -versedi-tjsnsi'on;'leaves-gi ng to the band the ity 1 "andthe spring-device 3, 'and by forming'said equal1'z-ing-device with a'reversed '15 tensionggjand constructing it, as aforementioned,' so that it will be constantly tensioned when 1n' operative position, the latter has an inherent tendency to-iiatten outer assume. a straightened condition, and tnormally tends 20 tio cause the instrumentality, to which it is' clipped,- to have 'a downward tendency and, at t e Sametime, to control its upward moi t-ion. In the v'const'ruction just described, I

provide afspring'- equalizing-device' with 'a reversed tension, 1n thesense that the normal tendency of the' spring is inl the direction of the' downward movement of the vehicle-body and reversed'to the direction of the upward movement thereof, so4 that' said equalizing- 3o device 'constitutes asstructure,thenatural tendency ofwhich is to pull the vehiclebody downwardly, but which .pullingtendency is normally controlled by-t e spring de vice 3.

' It will now be seen, by referring particu-4 larly to Eig. 1, that the'spring 1 is pivota'ily i fconnected'tothe'lower end-portion 4 ofthe link 4 and has its endsbent around and intoa Iplane beneath that of-the spring 3. 'This spring 3 is connected -to the intermediate 4o 'cross-piece 4b 'of the link 4; and the equal- 12er-'spring A5 is, as 'already described` connected to .theupper endportion 4 of the lilik. Either the sustaining-instrumentality 1 or the spring may, in any desirable way,

45 Vbe secured tothe body or to the axle of the vehicle. In other words, the position of my improved spring-structure may be that illus' trated in Fig. 1, in which case the spring 1 wouldbe secured to the body of the vehicle,

whereas the spring 3 would be secured to the axle or to a part connecting therewith. 0n -the other hand, the position of the spring structure can be reversed so that. the spring lva; 3 would be secured to the vchicle-body and the spring 1 attached to theaxle or to a part connecting therewith, and in which lat-ter form th ualizer 5 .would be reversed. As

will beun erstood, the load of the vehiclel 'will 'cause the sustaining-spring ll to flex,

' and this in turn lexesthe equalizer 5, which then has, as one of' its functions, a4 load-carrying capacity. At 'he same time,thc spring 1 roc'ks the links 4 on the axes formed by the holding-pieces 4;" and thereby further ilexes 5 5`Sid equalizer 5. Simultaneously, the weight of the superposed load and parts vwill iiex -the spring 3. Dui-in the return movement' of the parts, the equa i-zer 5 will control the same, as obvious. It will also be understood that, by connecting the spring-device 5 to 7'0 the upper end-portion 4a of the link 4, and

the curvedends of the. spring member `1 to 'I I the lower end-portion 4f* of the link 4, and attaching-the spring-device 3 to said link in-v ,termediate ofthe connections to .it of the springs 1 and 5,' and by reason of the constantlytensioned form of the spring-device' 5, the latter will tend to rock said link 4 on 'the ulcrum 4P, so that said link then-tends l to tension the curvedends of the spring l;

wherefore the tensioned condition of the spring-device 5 is augmented by the-tension o which the tensionedl curved ends of the u Aspring 1 impose upon itthrough the-interi mediate connecting link '4. This results 'in'. 85 an easy and gradual upward movement of the structure supported upon-the spring, the springsdevice' 5. serving to control any sudden recoil thereof. f

By reason .of the particular construction' 90 ofthe springsfconst-ituting any one or-more of the instrumentalities herein. designated 1,

3 and 5, and the particular mannerof conneet-ing' them, the action of the spring 3.-

and even of the spring 1'--'is absolutely con'- 95 trolled by the 'equalizerLdevice 5. For instance, `suppose that the load. is comparatively great; in the event that a sudden i downward movement .gif the vvehicle-body with its load iexes the spring?, the upward. 10p

movement ofthe body will gradual and beabsolutely controlled by the springcontrolling device 5, as will now be obvious, and

which result follows from the form of the structure and the manner of connecting the -parts' thereof, all as just described in detail. By this structure, the spring, when flexed by weight or by sudden jolts, will, during its return to normal position, be con-4 trolled in its action by the equalizer 5 which 110 will operate to prevent thc body moving upwardly in a rapid manner and, thus, proized so that its return is gradual and steady and without the usual thrusting effect'that is caused by the sudden action' of an uncontrolled spring in returning to normal p0'-l siti'on. Usually. in my construction, the upward movement of the vehicle-body, being izer-dev'ice 5. l

-In the 'embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2,

' the parts l and 3 are suitably jointed at their ends andY form an elliptic spring, the leaves of which are so formed as to have a reversed tensionall as hereinbefore fully explained.- In this embodiment, the link 4 is mounted on a'clip 7 suitably secured to the spring 3 and preferably ata point somewhat removed from the joint between the two springs 1 and 3.

It is to be understood that I can apply to existing forms of ,springs-elliptic and other types-the feature of reversed tensioned leaves; that is to-say, I cansupplement the leaves already onjsuch springs by the socallcd reversed tension leaves and thereby produce a spring-structure having the advantages which I have already pointed out.` Such supplemental yleaves would preferably` be on the sides of the structure opposite to those already there, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and G.

In Fig. 5, my spring-structure is illustrated as applied to the rear portion 'of an Y automobile, and in which instance the spring-section. of the sustaininginstrumentality l is of but half the length. illustrated -in F ig.` l. It and the equalizer-device 5 'are clipped or otherwisesecured to the body of the vehicle. At their forward v ends,- the spring 3 and equalizer-device 5 are connected by the link 4, suitably attached to a bracket 6 connecting with the vehicle-body. The' link at the opposite end connects not only the spring 3 and equa-lizerdevice 5-but, also, the sustaining-instrumentality 1, the same as shown in Fig. l.

In the modificationillustrated in Fig. 6, the sustainirig-instrumentality is, as already mentioned, in the form of an arm 2 which is curved downwardly to form a bearing forv one end of the spring 3, the opposite end ofV said spring having a bearing'in a brackets depending from'the vehicle-body? In this instance, the equalizer-device 5 is clipped to thespring 3 at pointsremoved from' their bearing end and is secured tov the vehiclebody by the. clip 6, as shown.

In theembodiment illustrated in Fig. 7, wherein the spring-Structure is arranged transversely ot' the' vehicle-body', the posi,- tion of the spring is reversed and it is clipped to the body ot the vehicle, as shown. At its ends, it is pivctully'connected to a bearing 9 'mounted on the axle 10. .ln this instance, the equalizer-device has ils'ends 'pivotally mounted in clips l1 secured to the axle l0 and'is clipped, intermediate of its ends, to the spring 3.

Under normal action of the spring-structure,ils dov/'nn a1 d movement would be more and the equalizer-device 5, a buffer desig-v nated generally by the numeral 12.v Preferably, and as shown, this buer comprises' a segment of rubber or other resilientmaterial 12"provided with a plurality of transverse apertures l2*J to promote resiliency and, through some of which,`clips or bands v12c are inserted to hold the segment firmly upon its support' which, in this instance, is shown as the spring 3. A band 12d, of steel or other suitable material, overlies the-periphery of ther segment and is movably held upon. its support by clips 12. To this end, the end portions of the band are straight and have their ends turned upward to form 'l' nitstopsl2. It is to be understoodV that in the event that the load of the vehicle should be s utli'cient toactuate the spring-structure and cause the clip-6, say, to impinge against the buffer, the band 12d will serve to protectthe rubber segment which, however,l will. yie

underthe pressure imposed upon; it bysaid- A band and, to permit'th1s, the end-portions of theband slide inthe clips 12?,.as will readily be understood by referring to Fig. 1.

lVhile I have illustrated applied only to certainfrmsof springs, it is manifest that the invention maybe utilized lin connection Withanygof the various types of springs, not only of theful-l elliptic form, as. illustrated in Fig. 2, but in connection with half and three-fourth elliptics, and have the same function and produce -the same results as alreadyl explained in connecr' tion withsthefo'rms of springs specifically described. j In other words, my invention is adapted for utilization iii-connection with various forms of springs. It is also adapted to be applied to'existing structures. For instance, asin Figs. 2 and 6,'it is simply necessary to introduce the equalizer-spring 5, clip' it to the upper member of the elliptic spring,

y'mvention asA i and clip the connecting-link 4 to the lowerv Y member of said spuug. 'I prefer,'however, to make the mem'bers of the elliptic .or-other .forms of'springsso that they will have the. so-called reversed tension :feature ernbodied therein.' A

From the foregoing, it will berperccived that I have succeeded in devising. aspringstructure which is welladapted toachieve izo l the several objects va nd.,e1 idsj in view. The f structure vis simpleand compactv in form, is

particularly `well fsuitedfor roadvehicles.

like automobiles, andthe, parts of which it is vformed are soV constructed as to permit of its lapplication to 'existing forms-'of vspring.- structures. Itis also to be understood that the language used inthe following plamsds.

intended to'co'uver all-ofthe generic and spe,-

cit'lc features 'of/the invention which,.as a

imatterof langiiage,`might be'said to fall therebetween. Asmany changes'. can be made in the-above construction andl- -inany -fbeniade withoutd'eparting from'the' scope thereof, it is intended that "all matter con- `tained in the. :foregoingv description and g shown-in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as villustrative and not in a limiting sensei.

ters-Patent is: f

l; spring-structure for vehicles and the like, including in combination, a supportingmember, a spring-member overlying and'disposed in lmovable'relation to said sup orting-member,, andan"inter1nediate resilient 5 having :anormal tendency toeiect a down-V spring-controlling instrumentality connected ."to said spring-member and constantly under tension zwhereby recoil of the vehicle-body is controlled in'any position it 'may-assume and Ward pulling, movement -upon said Vsprings `iiieiriber, 'said controlling-instrumentality fliaving-a movement. toward'anfd away from 'saidisuppogrting-member.

. 3o 2.f.-Aspnn' rsti'uct 're forlveliicles and the vl:,lilr, includingin combination,"a supportingmeinber, -aj' s ring-member disposed *above "and longitudinally of said supporting-merri- Aplan'eth c i'ewitlnand,a resilient springcon- 'trolling il'istriimentali'ty-v connecting with 1 1saidspring-member above said supporting- 'member 'and connectingalsowitli-said supporting-'member-and a apted to control the 40 action of said' spring-member and constantly under tension whereby it may have a normal tendency td effect a downward pulling move-4 ment upon saidsprin -member whereby recoil of the vehicle-bodyand upward move- '45 'mnt'of the same away from said supporting-member mayJ be controlled in any position-which'said body'may assume, said contro inginstrumentality having a movement toward and. away from said` supporting- -member in -unison .with said spring-member.

3. A vehicle-'spring including in combinat-ion, a `sustaming-instrumentality attached tothe body of a vehicle, a spring-device extending longitudinallyfof said sustaining 55 member, and in practically the same vertical plane therewith, and a constantly tensionedu spring-controlling member connected to and having a movement toward and away from, said sustaining-instrumentality and operatsi, ing uponsaid spring-device for controlling its movement in one direction and whereby recoil of the vehicle-body is controlled in any position it may -assume.

4. A vehicle-spring comprisin a sustaining-instrumentality, a springevice con- 1,oeo',e7e

apparently widely.

different embodiments of9 this invention can' comprising a plurality o berg andi-in 'substantially the same' vertical operative position under' tension ed-to control'the action of said" at lea'stof which is normally under tension.

5. A vehicle-spring comprising two spring- .devices connected at one end, and an interposed spring-contrllino" instrumentality i: parts, one at least of which is formed to have a reversed `tension with respect to. the part which it engages and adapted to produce in said conandadapt- Pmgde" Y .vice and comprising a plurality of parts,'one

trolling instrumentality a constantly tensioned condition, whereby its. normal tendency is to effect a pulling action unon at least one of said two spring-devices.-

l6.' As an article of nianufacture,la spring-v structure including a plurality of springinstrumentalities each comprising .'a plurality of elements formed with tension with respect to certain of the elements composing said spring-instrumentalities; and a spring-controlling,device intera reversed posedbetween said spring-'instrumentalities I and connected with,'eachvotlier and comprisinga .plurality of elements', some of which areio'rmed with a-normally reversed tension to produce in said ,spriiig-controlling device a constant tendency to e instrumentalites.

ect-'a pulling action upon the uppermost of, said spring.-

1 l 7.- A spring-structure comprising a 'susv,

taining-member, a spring-device overlying said sustaining-member and movably con- I nccting therewith, a connection disposed between said .sustaining-member and Said. 'spring-device whereby they are permitted to have relative movement, and a spring-controlling deslice attached to said-spring-member and adapted to have a normal down- .ward pulling action on said spring-device, said controlling-device being attached to said connection at a point removed from the points of connection between said sustaining-member'and said spring-device and having a to-and-fro movement in relation to said sustaining-member. Y

8. A spring-structure including in conibinaticn, a pair of springs extending longi' tudinally of and in the same vertical plane with eachother, a link-connection- @eratively related to said springs and adapted.

to permit movement of one in relation to the other, and a spring-controlling device attached to the uppermost spring intermedi-vr ate of its ends and adapted to have a downward pulling action thereonf-said device being connected at-one of its ends with said link-connection.. and. being, when"A in operative position,4 atI 'all times unden tension.

9. A spring-structure including in comon the lower sprin and -to which 'connection i the sprin Toont-ro ing, device 'is attached above the4 ulcrum of said connection.'

l0. A spring-structure includmgin coni binatioma plurality of springsfeict'ending longitudinallyv of .each other. and;` oiie'.' of which overlies anothena spring-controllin. 'device at all' times under tension: interpose between said springs and 'connected-to the lsaid springs; i* 4'-;.f 111; .Al-spring-'structure including in com#4 z bination, 1 s plurality. ,of springs extending uppermost of said s rings and hayingano` tiiict a 'downwamlpulling llink-connection `fulcriiming on enel-of sai springs and toQwhich'lsaid.spriiigcontlollin' device-is attachedzabove its 'fulci'nniland cons-l meeting with'4 the other of'fsaids'pringsfand:;

adapted, by; its rocking action to l.tens

" longitudinally of eachvother'andione over-i A lying f. aii`otl 1er, ,a spring-'controlling' device .'Lat-tached tothe.'- p rmostlofsaid springs and at all times unde lnormalatendency toettect a downward pull-1 ing action'on-said uppermost -`s ring,\and al" er tensionand having a rocking connecting-memberltt'n cruming on'A anotherosaid springsI 'and to which said 1 pring-controlling device is attached4 above e fulcrum of said -rockingqnember and adapted byits rocking movementto eifect a tension on one 4or another of said springs.

12. A spring-structure --con'iprisingL a pair. of elements o eratively-connected at one end, one of said e ementscomprising a plurality' of leaves, one' o fiwhich is formed witha reversed tension, a link interposed between Said elements, an eleinent-controlling device .connecting with one of' said elementsA and' 4 -lpivotally connected at one end to said -link and comprising a plurality of leaves, one of .which is formed .with a reversed tension, and

a buffer member interposed between'one ot' said elementsand said eleinenticonti'olling device' and consisting of a resilient instri1' mentality, a-band'embracing the same, and

.means for holding said band and resilient "instrumentality in intimate contact.

- 13. -A spring-structure including in combination, a plu lityof components, onel com rising a sprin composed of an attaching and and a lea movably mounted thereon and possessing a reversed tension; another component comprising a sustaininginstrumentality, andan equalizer-component interposed between the otherv components ponent. including a normal action on said uppermost spring, afrockin joneso sad components and said equalizer# .bination, a.l

' a rocking link attach .opening formed with.` a\

and including an 'attachin band and a re# versed tension springflea and constantly undert'ension, anda link-device operatively connecting a pluralityof said components.

14. `A- spring-structure including iii-com-- bination, aplnrality ofl components `onriat-Ve-ly imeidrbne component inaliing a sustaininginstrumentality `;v af second com vv arched spring.; c01nposed'-fofan attaching band-andra .-re-

- 'versed-'tension leaf,'said arched component being. 'at'all V times-under tension'and a apted to effect a pulling. action, .and -fmeans --for operatively connecting the j components.

wherebly action .of :said-spring-'component' is 2.

n .bnatioiig-a "plurality- .ofl .components fo erf,

nd 4and a re#- versed tenfsionleaf, `said 'arched component vativelyijcoiuiected; one-component inclu: g

'a sustaininginstrumentality-g' a second coins-8l g -ponentincliidinga normali arched:'spring' i composedofi'an'at-taching-lha being constantly nndertens ion,.fmeans for reb action offsaid .spring-componentis Vcontro' edsandequalized by said1e nalizer.\

component, and a buifer interposed tween device. g.

erlyiii said arched spri al rocking link attacheadjacent--the enden f 116. A..s`pr -strncture.includlng'v l' in .commir'ality.- of' normally 1 arhed springs connected 'toeach other, oneqf said arche'd. springs. being 'constantlyund er- :ten .sion and .adapted to leiiect a pulling 2 action 1"00 upon the sprin to which it is.connected,:a third spring` und said arched springs and fulcrumin'g. on'fs'aidv.

third spring and, by its.movement, ada 3.105

to tension one or another =of said ree. springs, and a bui'i'er interposed between the arched springs and said third;spring.`and adapted to--be engaged Aby one osaid arched f springs. 17. A sprin -structur'e including in'combina'tion, a pirali'ty of normally 'arched springs connected to each other, one of said arched springs being constantly undertension and adapted to eii'ect a pulling action upon the spring to which it is connected,' ai third spring underlyin said arched Springs adjacent tl1e ends of said arched springs .and fulcruining on said third spring and, byits movement, ada ted to tension one or another of said t ree springs, anda buifer interposed between the arched springs and said third spring and 18. A spring-structure including in 06111;,

bination, an upper 'and a lower spring, a

i rocking member forming a connection bebination, 'a swiveling connectionevice, an

tween'said springs and fulcruming on the lower spring, a spring-controlling device l.connected at 1ts end to said rocking member,

and a' connection between said spring-controlling device -and said upper spring whereby said device effects a downward strain upon said upper spring.

19, A spring-structure includin .in comupper spring connected to said device at its owerportron, a second spring connected to said devlce ad]acent its central portion, and

an equalizeredevice connected to said swivel# lng-device at its upper portion, said swiveling-deviceunder the strain imposed on it by said upper spring operating to effect a-tensioning of said equalizer-device and a down-v ward Strain upon said upper spring.

` '20. A'spring-structure including incom-v bination, aswiveling connection-device, an

upper spring` connected to said device at its' .lower portion, a second spring connected to" y said device-adJacentits central portion, an

Veqnalizer-devicoconnected to said swiveling- ,device-'at'.its'upper portion, said swivelingl' ,-device -unde'r .the strainimposed oni it by said upper spring operating to e'ect a tensioning of said equalizer-device and a down- Ward strain upon said upper spring-and a yielding bumper disposed in` the path'of` movement of said equalizerfdevice and provided with a plurality of arched orifices.

21. A spring-structure including in combination, an upper and lower spring, rocking members. forming apconnection between 'epializing-device, is attached, said springmember 'being attached to the lowermost of said bearing portions, and 'said supportingmember being attached to the intermediate bearing portion, whereby movement of said spring-member effects 4a rocking movement of said connecting-device that is` imparted to said equalizing-devic and vice Versa.

In iestimom7 whereof I afiix lily-signature in presence o .two witnesses.

y WILLLAM EANDREW. 'Witnesses Y 1 AQM. PARKINS5' V,EDMUND H.' PABRY, 

